Pencil Drawing - Blending and Shading - Learn to Blend and Shade your Drawings

This pencil drawing video will show some of the tools and methods I use to create realistic textures with blending and shading techniques. The tools you choose to blend pencil with will alter the texture created. Here, you'll learn various blending materials and the textures they naturally create.

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Thanks for watching!
JD Hillberry

[mythrin]

There isn't cheating in art, at least from what I've learned. Art is about expressing any idea or concept on a material. The process of the art is up to the artist's style, technique, and skill. So those who say that blending is cheating, like it's some kind of international Olympic sport should be ashamed to call themselves artists. After all if everyone used "correct" ways of art then every artwork would be relatively similar.

[JDHillberry]

Yes. Q-tips work well for certain types of textures. I like to use a variety of blending materials to easily create a variety of textures.

[StartArtSmart]

Definitely used every bit of this information. As I have really never took the time to test bends. Plus, I didn't know I was damaging the paper. Until you said something.



-- Thanks for sharing!

[everettwhite]

I found several useful tips. You’ve helped me with my drawings because I’m self taught. Thanks very much 😊

[peppwoni]

there is no cheating in art. there is no right or wrong only different methods.

[rubengenesis]

There is no cheating in art. Everything is permitted by...YOU! Thanks for sharing your techniques.

[moontymato]

great tutorial! you are the first person to do realism videos and not put me to sleep!

[mykhelderian]

I hope you realize how much your generosity of knwoledge, time and talent are appreciated.  Thanks you so much.

[gast]

I've just now discovered that you have a YouTube Channel - and don't know how I could miss that up to now. I use your book quite often and it has been helping me a lot; watching your videos is somehow "different", I enjoy it very much. Thank you!

[ChelissaMoon]

I appreciate you taking the time to post this video.

[rayvincyful]

I was going to tell you that you've got those idea from a book, then I learned from your channel that you're the author of that book!

[tkmaida]

Mother of Christ that intro scared me....

[JDHillberry]

I also suggest using stumps and tortillians at an angle rather than the point. However, the reason I suggest softening the tip of stumps and tortillians is that it is much less likely to damage the paper. Many students push to hard with these blending tools and once the tooth of the paper is compromised it will react differently than the rest of your paper. For extremely realistic drawing, it's best to be "nicer" to your paper. Of course, the paper you use makes a difference also.

[JDHillberry]

Also known as Q-tips. I have used those as well. I try to impress on my students to try anything that doesn't leave a stain or damage the tooth of the paper. Each object you blend with can create a slightly different texture.

[JDHillberry]

I haven't done quick life drawings for quite a few years. I wish I had time to do more. As for tips, keep in mind (or draw lightly on your paper) horizontal and vertical lines to help compare angles and also constantly compare common measurements.

[JDHillberry]

There are several things you can do. First of all, I love dirty stumps and use the loaded stumps to add shading with no pencil lines. I keep a few handy that are loaded in various degrees. If you need to clean one, try erasing the tip with a kneeded eraser, rubbing on some sandpaper or shaving the tip with a razor blade.

[JDHillberry]

I like General's Pencils. They are a great quality and the only pencils made in the US.

[JDHillberry]

Isn't technology amazing! I'm glad I'm able to help with your drawings

[junelawniczak]

So glad that I found you! I just ordered from your website. Can't wait to receive. Thanks for shipping so fast!

[AmazinGraceXOXO]

My gosh you have no idea how much this video has helped me. I had to subscribe. Thank you so so much. For the longest time I never knew the proper way to use certain tools. I'm so glad I came across your channel!